Free Body Shop Estimate Template
Create a professional estimate in minutes
Show the damaged areas, repair plan and likely cost in one clear estimate. Vehicle owners see what the work covers, making your shop easier to choose for the repair.
Email, print or download your estimate as a PDF.
14-day free trial. No credit card required.
Price the job. Send the estimate. Get back to work.
Body Shop Estimate Template Examples
Browse the layouts before adding your shop's repair details. Each preview opens the same estimate editor.
What Is a Body Shop Estimate?
A body shop estimate shows the vehicle damage the shop can see, the body and paint work it expects to perform, the parts it may need and the likely total. It gives the vehicle owner one place to review the repair plan before work begins.
Damage behind panels, trim or bumpers may not be visible during the first inspection. State what the estimate is based on and explain that you will revise it if teardown or measurements reveal more work.
How to Create a Body Shop Estimate
Move from the damaged area to the repair operation and likely price. The vehicle owner should be able to see what you plan to repair, replace and refinish.
- Your Shop: Enter the shop name and contact details.
- Your Logo: Add the logo used on your shop documents.
- The Customer: Enter the vehicle owner or customer receiving the estimate.
- Number and Dates: Check the estimate number and issue date, then set a valid-until date.
- Expected Repairs: List panel work, parts, paint materials and labor with quantities and prices.
- Tax and Total: Check the applicable tax and the likely repair total.
- Terms and Send: Use Terms and Conditions for vehicle details and scope limits. Review, then send.
How to Fill In Body Shop Estimate Line Items
Name the panel and the operation on each line. For hourly work, put hours in the description and use the hourly rate as the unit price. This separates the time spent repairing a panel from the time and materials needed to refinish it.
This fictional right-front fender repair is priced in US dollars. The illustrative 8% tax applies only to the $160.00 of paint materials and clips; use the tax treatment that applies to your shop.
| QTY | Description | Unit Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Right-front fender dent repair — labor hours | $95.00 | $190.00 |
| 3 | Right-front fender preparation and refinishing — labor hours | $95.00 | $285.00 |
| 1 | Paint and refinishing materials | $145.00 | $145.00 |
| 6 | Fender liner retaining clips | $2.50 | $15.00 |
| Subtotal | $635.00 | |
| Sales Tax (8% illustrative, materials and parts only) | $12.80 | |
| Estimated Total | $647.80 |
What to Include in Body Shop Estimate Terms
Use Terms and Conditions to identify the vehicle and explain the limits of the inspection. State the panels covered, any excluded refinishing work and what happens if disassembly reveals more damage.
Adapt this sample to the repair shown above. Keep only the terms your shop uses, and check local requirements for repair authorization and any policies you add.
Example: Terms and Conditions
- Scope: right-front fender dent repair and refinishing, paint materials and six retaining clips. Adjacent-panel blending is excluded.
- Based on visible damage at inspection. Additional damage or work will be described in a revised estimate for customer approval before it begins.
- Prices valid for 14 days from the estimate date. Repair timing will be confirmed after approval and a parts-availability check.
Put the Repair Plan on Paper
Enter your repair and refinishing prices. Docelf calculates the total, so you can review the estimate and send it to the vehicle owner.
What to Include in a Body Shop Estimate
Before sending, check that the vehicle owner can connect each damaged area to the work you have priced.
Vehicle and damage details
Record the year, make, model and VIN or license plate in Terms and Conditions. Name each damaged panel and its side, and include the inspection date.
Repair or replacement work
Show whether each area will be repaired, replaced, aligned, removed or inspected further. Keep unrelated operations on separate lines.
Parts, paint and labor
List replacement parts, paint or materials, body labor and refinishing labor where they help explain the likely total.
Assumptions and supporting files
State what the inspection covered and which areas still need checking. Attach useful photos or inspection files so the customer can see the basis for the estimate.
Separate Body Work From Refinishing
A body repair and a paint operation are not the same part of the job. Put panel repair or replacement on clear lines, then show refinishing, blending or related material charges where they apply.
This makes it easier for the vehicle owner to follow the estimate and see why two damaged areas with similar parts may still have different labor and refinishing costs.
Body Shop Estimate, Quote, or Invoice?
Choose the document based on how much the shop knows about the damage and whether the repair is ready to bill.
Estimate
Use an estimate when the visible damage supports a likely repair plan but teardown, measurements or parts choices may still change the work.
Quote
Use an auto repair quote when the body work, parts, price and terms are specific enough for the vehicle owner to approve.
Invoice
Use an auto repair invoice when the repair is ready to bill and the customer needs the final amount and payment details.
Use Photos to Explain the Repair
Attach a photo of the damage when it helps explain a line item. Identify the panel and side in the filename or image so the customer can match it to the estimate. PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG and WebP attachments are supported, up to 5 MB each.
If disassembly changes the plan, describe the new findings and send the revised estimate for review before carrying out the additional work.
More Body Shop Estimate Previews
-
Blank Body Shop Estimate Template
Create Free Estimate -
Simple Body Shop Estimate Template
Create Free Estimate -
Downloadable Body Shop Estimate Template
Create Free Estimate -
Editable Body Shop Estimate Template
Create Free Estimate -
Fillable Body Shop Estimate Template
Create Free Estimate -
Professional Body Shop Estimate Template
Create Free Estimate
Related Automotive Estimate Templates
Choose a related automotive estimate when the work is broader, mainly collision repair or part of a longer restoration.
Other Estimate Template File Formats
Prefer a document or spreadsheet? These pages provide separate file templates. The online estimate editor calculates totals and downloads the finished estimate as a PDF.
After You Send the Estimate
- See when the vehicle owner opens or responds to the estimate
- Explain any changed repair scope or price when you send a revised estimate
- When the repair is ready to bill, create an invoice from the estimate and check it against the work performed
Body Shop Estimate Template FAQs
Find answers to common questions about damage, repair operations, revisions and sending this estimate.
-
What is a body shop estimate?
A body shop estimate shows the visible vehicle damage, the body and paint work the shop expects to perform, the parts it may need and the likely price based on the inspection so far.
-
What should I include in a body shop estimate?
Identify the customer and vehicle, then describe the damaged panels and planned repairs. Show parts, materials, labor and applicable tax. Add the inspection assumptions and valid-until date.
-
Should body work, paint and parts be separate line items?
Separate them when it helps the vehicle owner understand the repair plan. Clear body, refinishing, parts and material lines make the likely total easier to follow.
-
What should I do if teardown reveals hidden damage?
Create a revised estimate that shows the added damage, work and likely price. Explain what changed before the vehicle owner decides whether to go ahead with the extra repair.
-
Should repair and replacement operations be listed separately?
Yes, when both types of work are involved. Naming the operation for each damaged area helps the vehicle owner see what the shop plans to repair and what it plans to replace.
-
What is the difference between a body shop estimate and an auto repair estimate?
A body shop estimate focuses on body damage, panels, refinishing and related operations. An auto repair estimate can also cover mechanical repairs and general vehicle service.
-
Can I attach damage photos or inspection files?
Yes. You can attach PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG or WebP files up to 5 MB each. The customer can download them with the estimate.
-
Can a vehicle owner accept a body shop estimate online?
Yes. Customers can accept or decline estimates online. Docelf updates the status and emails you when they respond.
-
Can I email or download a body shop estimate?
Yes. You can email the estimate from Docelf, print it or download it as a PDF. Docelf also shows when an emailed estimate is delivered and opened.
-
Can I create an invoice from an accepted body shop estimate?
Yes. You can create an invoice from an estimate. Docelf copies the relevant customer, item, price and document details into the new invoice.
Ready to Price the Body Repair?
Give the vehicle owner a repair plan they can review before booking the work.
- Keep damage, parts, paint and labor together
- Let Docelf calculate line amounts, tax and the total
- Email the estimate or download a professional PDF
